Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 23109, Finch Gildersleeve, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New York
W 23100
{ B. L. Wt. 831 - 200 - Lieut. Issued Sept. 13. 1791. No papers.
CONTENTS

3716.
New York Albany
Betsy Gildersleeve widow of Fitch N.Y. Gildersleeve who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Lieutenant
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 32 1/2 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the day of Feb 9 1849 and sent to
L. G. Smith Albany N.Y.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1848, Page 76 Vol. 4
Reported
Feb 7/49

6637
Reunited Nov. 1785 Married Oct 24 March 16.
Col Malcomb
Ensign March 1777
Lieut Oct 16 - "
Resd to Feb 1779
In Basting Book cont'd with of the war
Admired
Lieutenant
2 years
For Thos Pitts Lieut. U.S.

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court house in Rochester in and for the County of Monroe in the State of New York on the third day of April One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
Present, Roswell Wickwire, Alfred Jones and Philander Hane judges of the said Court.
Polly Gilderslieve being duly sworn in open court deposes and says; that she is aged eighty two years and now resides in the city of Rochester in the family of James Williams whose wife is her granddaughter: That she was married to Lieutenant Finch Gilderslieve in the month of November One thousand seven hundred and eighty five by the Reverend Matthias Burnett at Norwalk in the State of Connecticut: That her maiden name was Polly Seymour: That after their marriage she lived with him without interruption to the time of his decease which happened at South East in the State of New York on the twenty fourth day of March One thousand eight hundred and twelve: That she has never been married since the death of her said husband: That she always understood from her said husband and from others who knew him, that he served as a Lieutenant in the American Army of the Revolution in the New York State Line of Troops, in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Wising Phelps and in a Company commanded by Captain Jonathan Titus during the war, and she has no doubt that such information is true: That she does not remember the number of the Regiment in which her said husband served: That she has seen the Commission which her said husband had Lieutenant Finch Gilderslieve had as such Lieutenant: That she supposes the Commission is lost unless it is preserved among some papers in the hands of her son Benjamin Gilderslieve who resides in Charleston in the State of South Carolina: That she has never made any previous application for a pension and did not know till lately that she was entitled to a pension as the widow of the said Lieutenant Finch Gilderslieve.
Subscribed and sworn to this 3 rd day of April 1839 before me in open Court. (Ophaim) J. P. Clerk of Monroe County.

I, Ephraim Goss Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that that the within named Polly Gildersleeve appeared in open Court and testified to the within facts and that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said Polly Gildersleeve for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 3 d day of April 1839.
Ephraim Goss Clerk.

Rev  WIDOW, &c.  am
File No. 23109
Polly Gildersleeve wid of Fitch Gildersleeve Lieut Ben war
Act Feb. 24  1848
Index: Vol A , Page 274
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4107.
New York Albany
Subscribed
Polly Gildersleeve widow of Fitch Gildersleeve who was a Lieutenant in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 320 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of Dec. 1843 and sent to
Albert Lester Canandaque N. York
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 117.

see letter to A. Lester Aug. 25. 1843-
Albany 5050
Polly Gildersleeve widow of Fitch Gildersleeve
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 24. March 1812 of Monroe Co. in the State of N. York who was a Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Titus of the reg't. commanded by Col. Weisenfels in the N. York line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 320 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18. day of Feb. 1840 and sent to Hon. Thos. Bette Senate U. S.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '39 1120.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '40 160.00
$1280.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. Brown Book A. Vol. 2.
Page 79
Clerk,

6637
ct.
Hon. Th o Beltz Senate N.J.

Apr 23/82 Mrs. Folly Gilchrist 4007
1882 ack
James L. Edward Eugene Commissr of Pensions War Dept. Washington City.
General Gentling

Albany Sept. 20. 1848.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions, Sir,
I enclose the declaration of Mrs Polly Gildersleeve, for the purpose of obtaining her pension Certificate under the Act of 2 d February 1848.
Very Respectfully Yours obedt Servt. Lemuel Jenkins.

State of New York
Monroe County ss: Mitchell Spoder of the city of Rochester in the State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that from the year eighteen hundred and eleven to the year eighteen hundred and fourteen he resided in the town of South East in the state of New York, that he was then well acquainted with Lieutenant Finch Gildershine and his wife Polly who resided in said town; that said Finch Gildershine died at the town of South East some time in the year eighteen hundred and twelve as this deponent was then informed and believed to be true; that his widow Polly Gildershine continued to live at South East in the year eighteen hundred and fourteen when this deponent moved away; that he has occasionally seen her from that period up to the present time; that she has never been married since the decease of her said husband to the knowledge or belief of this deponent; that she now lives

in the city of Rochester aforesaid in the family of James Williams whose wife is her grand daughter -
This deponent further saith that he has seen the original patent issued to Lieutenant Finch Gilderleeve, bearing date the ninth day of July A.D. 1790, under the great seal of the state of New York, executed by Lewis A. Scott Sec- retary and George Clinton Governor, for one thousand two hundred acres of land as compensation for his military services, which original patent is now in the possession of the above named James Williams and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn before me April 8 th 1839
Mitchell Soder
Isaac Hills. Recorder of Rochester -
State of New York
City of Rochester ss. I the Subscriber do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mitchell Soder, who signed the foregoing foregoing affidavit. he is a citizen of good standing and character in the said City of Rochester, and that his affidavit
is entitled to the full force and effect
Dated April 8 th 1839 -
Isaac Hills
Recorder of the City of Rochester -

Canandaigua, N.Y. May 31. 1843,
James L. Edwards Esq., Com. of Pensions, Sir,
I enclose the declaration of Mrs. Polly Gildermeere, of this place, made in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of an act of March 3. 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served in the Revolutionary War. It was assumed that Mrs. Gildermeere was not known personally to any Magistrate of this town, and her identity was, therefore, proved to the Magistrate before whom her declaration was made, in a manner similar to that prescribed by the laws of this State, in case of the acknowledgment of a deed before an officer who is not personally acquainted with the grantor. I have thought that this would be sufficient, as some such mode of identification seems to be indispensable where the person making the declaration is not personally known to any Magistrate, before whom it can be made.
I am, very Respectfully,
Your obedt. Servt.
Albert Lester

State of Connecticut County of Fairfield
Probate Court. District of Norwalk in said County and State Personally appeared before said Court being a Court of Records on the twentieth day of December Eighteen Hundred and thirty eight Mercy Gregory of said Norwalk who being duly sworn according to Law deposes and says that she is Ninety eight Years of age and was well acquainted with Finch Gildersleeve and was also with his first Widow Polly Gildersleeve who was a niece of his and well remembers that said Finch Gildersleeve was married to Polly Symons now Polly Gildersleeve at her house in said Norwalk the same week the Rev. Matthew Burnet was installed Pastor of the Congregational Church in said Norwalk which was on the 2 d day of November 1785. and was Married by said Matthew Burnet and the deponent was present and saw them Married and she also understood at that time that said Finch Gildersleeve was an officer in the Continental Army that said Polly Gildersleeve has lived with the deponent for a number of years and she understands that said Polly now lives in Rochester in the State of New York Sworn to and subscribed her Mercy Mark Gregory on the day and Year aforesaid That I am well acquainted with said Mercy Gregory and her faculties and Memory is good and that she is a Credible Person
Benj. Isaac Judge of said Probate Court

There are no records of the 1 st Congregational Church in Norwalk, that I have ever seen or heard of as being in existence, of an older date than Jan. 1807. In the records kept by Rev. R. R. Swan, at that time pastor of that church I find the following words over the date Sept 2, 1807, viz "The covenant, Confession of faith, & Catalogue of members were not to be found". In the beginning of the records kept by Rev. Henry Benedict, who was installed as pastor of this church Aug. 13, 1828 are the following words: "And also the former records of the church, which extend no farther back than to the settlement of Rev. Mr. Swan, in 1807, the old records having been lost". It is the current report & belief that records were kept, and that after the death of Rev. Dr. Burnet in 1806 and before the settlement of Rev. Mr. Swan in 1807, the records were destroyed or lost. I have often heard this statement made - and I have never heard any other. I believe it to be true.
Norwalk Dec. 20. 1838. Edwin Hall, Pastor of the 1 st Cong. Church
Probate Court. District of Norwalk in Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut. Personally appeared before said Court being a Court of Record. Edwin Hall, and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing statement by him subscribed, is true. And I am well acquainted with said Rev. Edwin Hall, and that he is a credible person.
Benj. Asaas Judge of said Probate Court

I Benj o Isaac Town Clerk of the town of Norwalk in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut do hereby Certify on my Oath of office that I have carefully examined the Records of said Town and do not find the Marriage of Simon Gildersleeve to Polly Seymour now Polly Gildersleeve Recorded in said Town Records Witness Benj o Isaac Town Clerk of said Norwalk -

I Richard B Isaac Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New York do hereby certify that Benj Isaac is Judge of said Court of Probate duly Commissioned and Sworn and also that he is Jury Clerk of said New York and that his signature hereunto annexed is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Probate Court this 20 day of March A. D. 1838
Richard B Isaac Clerk
Francis B. Root Writs

State of New-York, } ss. County of Ontario
On this Eighteenth day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Ontario in the state of New York, Polly Gildersleeve a resident of the town of Canandaigua in the said county of Ontario aged Ninety two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War:
That she is the widow of Hitch Gildersleeve , who was a Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution, and on a count of whose services, she was pensioned under the Acts of Congress of July 7. 1838, 3 d March 1843 & 17 June 1844 - and the annual amount of the pension which she received under the Act of 17 June 1844, was three hundred & twenty dollars -
She further Declares that she is still a Widow. Subscribed on the day Polly Gildersleeve & your first above written, before me. * S. C. White Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above Declaration is personally known to me. * S. C. White Justice of the Peace
State of New-York, } ss. County of Ontario
I, Reuben Murray Jr Deputy Clerk of the said county, do hereby certify that Solomon C White Esq was on the day of the date of the above Declaration and Certificate, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, duly appointed and sworn, and that the signatures to the Jurat of the above Declaration and to the above Certificate, purporting to be his, are genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said county, this nineteenth day of September 1848.
Reuben Murray Jr Deputy Clerk Co. Ontario County Clerk absent from the office as above

State of New York Ontario County } ss. On this Eighth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and forty three, personally appeared before Solomon C. White, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Ontario, in the State of New York, Polly Gildersleeve, a resident of the village of Canandaigua, in the County of Ontario and State of New York, aged eighty six years in January last past, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3d. March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War:
That she is the widow of Finch Gildersleeve who was a Lieutenant in the Company of Captain Titus, in the Regiment of Colonel Myseaphelps, of the New York State line troops; and that the annual amount of the pension that she received under the act of July 7, 1838, is Three Hundred and Twenty Dollars.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Polly Gildersleeve
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Ontario in the State of New York, And I, the said Justice, do hereby certify that the said Polly Gildersleeve, the declarant named and described in the foregoing declaration, is personally known to me.
Solomon C. White Justice of the Peace of the County of Ontario in the State of New York
State of New York. Ontario County Clerk's Office } p. I hereby certify that Solomon C. White Esquire before whom the above declaration was subscribed & sworn was at the time

the same purports to have been subscribed and sworn a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Ontario duly Elected and qualified and authorized by Law to act as such - And further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice and verily believe his name subscribed to the above certificate to be in his genuine handwriting -
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said County at Canandaigua this 13 th September A.D. 1843.
Thomas Hall. Clerk of Ontario County

15. Sep. 1843. 4608 L. Polly Gilderslive N.Y. Feb 1843
Free FREE
$320 per annum
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
Albert Lester
Canandaigua N.Y.

Canaan-daignd, N.Y. Sept. 14, 1843.
James L. Edwards Esq., Comr. of Pensions,
Sir:
Enclose a declaration of Polly Gilderleeve, made for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1843, in said declaration mentioned,
I am, very Respectfully, Your obedt. Servt.
Albert Lester